Parkway Soccer Family Day at Millennium Park in West Roxbury–What a Blast!
What a fabulous time! The Parkway Youth Soccer League and the Parkway Family Day task force organizations really outdid themselves this year in a combined community-wide effort that resulted in a very successful Parkway Soccer Family Day this past Saturday, June 16Th at Millennium Park in West Roxbury, MA. 
So many families volunteered, local businesses donated food, pastries, and other give aways. There were pony rides, two (2) moonwalks, a duck pond toss, a theatre production, patriotic songs, trivia games, and The Boston Fire Department allowed children to play on and learn about the fire engines. The Parkway Idol Contest was a big hit as usual…and so much more!
A cookout included burgers, dogs, slush, popcorn, cotton candy and much more-all free! 
My kids, Paul and Sean, and my husband Tom had a blast. They bumped into lots of friends and relatives. Many local politicians were also there which gave people a chance to meet them on a more personal level.
I would like to thank all who had a hand in this fabulous day…each year it gets better and better. Keep up the good work!
West Roxbury, MA — Corrib Pub 5K Road Race
The Corrib Pub 5K Road Race in West Roxbury was held on Sunday, June 3rd, 2007. The
race is held annually and this was the 14th race. I was delighted when I woke up to a cool breeze in the low 60’s. This may not be a comfortable temperature for anyone planning cookouts or outdoor activities, but for a runner it was perfect. I try to do it each year the last two years my daughters have joined me in the run as well as many friends and neighbors. This year my colleague, Matt White, from C21 Carole White Associates joined me in the run. My husband, Frank, usually volunteers and was on hand with the camera to get a before and after shot of us.
The race is fun for me because it is my regular running route , 3 miles with one steep hill on Corey Street, and yes the rolling hills of Bellevue Hill seem unending when you are finishing your last mile. They have DJ Dave at the beginning who gets you motivated with the singing of the National Anthem, the fire trucks are present at the beginning and the American Flag drapes over us at the starting line. 
I understand this year they had over 1700 runners and lots of cheering on the rout–and water tables to help those of us that need a reason to stop along the way .
Oh, I am feeling my age this year and also a slower pace due to a longer sabbatical over the past year but as always I am determined to finish as friends and neighbors are cheering you on along the way. I speed up a little bit as I see people I know with a smile on my face and waving to everyone I know along the way! My daughter, Brianna who is 12 years old, is about 3/4 of a mile in front of me (oh, the youth of today…my other daughter, Shannon, 11 years old, is a few steps behind me.
There is a lot of support from the community and the Corrib Pub who supports many local charities and local youth organizations. They have raised over $510,000 from this event from which our community and children have benefited. It ’s great to see so many volunteers each year working hard to make it the success it is today. There is a complimentary cook-out afterward in Billings Field, with all the hamburgers and hot dogs you can eat, entertainment and children’s activities, a great day had by all and a few sore muscles afterward. To get more information their website is www.coolrunning.com. Thanks to all the volunteers and family and friends that cheered us on along the way.
See you next year!!!
Free Fun for All at Castle Island in South Boston
Hi All,
My name is Maureen O’Keefe. My husband Tom and I both grew up in West Roxbury. We have two (2) sons: Paul age 12 and Sean age 10. Both of our parents are also Bostonians and they taught us to truly appreciate the benefits of this wonderful city. I will be blogging on free or inexpensive family-friendly field trips in and around Boston. At times members of our extended family or friends may also tag along.
Our first field trip…one of my all time favorite places…Castle Island, South Boston, a 24 acre urban park on the waterfront. There is so much to do there we could never get to it all in one day, therefore we will be taking a few trips over the summer.
We went on Saturday evening of the Memorial Day Weekend. Having such a busy weekend with chores, yard-work, errands, etc., we weren’t able to do something special for the kids and the guilt was setting in. So we threw a blanket in the trunk, gave my mother and sister a call and took the short 10 minute drive to Castle Island. Paul’s friend Joey was around so he joined us. It was around 6:30 and still brutally hot but there is always a gorgeous sea breeze and we remembered to bring sweat shirts. First we stopped at Sullivans, a famous fast food place which has been around for as long as I can remember. The Cost of dinner for two adults and three children: $30.
We set up our blanket at the top of a grassy hill by the castle and enjoyed the scenery and cool breeze while we ate. My sister Siobhan, her husband and five kids, Hannah 10, Caroline 9, Emma Jane 8, Patrick 5, Maeve 18 mos, and my mother Marion (who would never pass up an invite to Castle Island) met us there. The younger kids played tag and rolled down the hill while the older ones took a walk around the castle and checked out the fishing pier. They ran back out of breath and excited because a man had caught a giant crab and a ’monster size’ fish. We all enjoyed watching the planes land and take off from nearby Logan Airport. We then walked over to Sullivan’s for ice cream and shakes ($10 for one adult and three kids-I was good and passed on the extra calories, but my husband…). It was a fabulous evening…short ride, short money, and free parking. We arrived home refreshed and in good moods.
Other great things to do at Castle Island include Castle Tours (including a sunset tour which I hear is breath taking) conducted by The Castle Island Association (all volunteers), walking around the Sugar Bowl, swimming in the ocean (yes it’s clean and safe), biking, picnic area, playground area, fishing off the pier, flying kites. There are also special events held in the castle such as a haunted house on Halloween. For more info call the Castle Island Association @ 617-268-5744.
Let me know what you think:)
Maureen
Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain
Mother Nature got busy earlier than in years past for Lilac Sunday at Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain–which, coincidentally, was the same day as Mother’s Day this year! The weather was beautiful that day and the display was magnificent! What better day could there be for all the women in our lives than to spend it in Lilac Heaven?
I have never seen so many cars, bikes, strollers and visitors at that usually rather calm park. After struggling a bit, my husband, our 2 dogs and myself finally found a parking spot and went for a stroll. Right away, all our senses got tested and rewarded: the smell, the look, the touch…. It is incredible how so many varieties of lilacs can smell so different and look quite a bit different too. It was a feast: old, young, tall, small, human, dog or bug! It didn’t matter: everybody was having a ball!
I hope that lots of you had the chance to go and see by yourself. Some of the pictures that I have included only show a glimpse of the amazing show Mother Nature is offering us (free of charge).
If you haven’t had the chance, run to the Arboretum! You may still be lucky enough to get a last taste! And if not, then, mark your calendar for next year and treat yourself to something wonderful! You deserve it!
Anybody who already witnessed the beauty of the lilacs, I welcome any comments you may have. Let me know which ones were your favourites: was it the blue, purple, crimson, white, cream…?
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